51社区

Nirmala Ghimirey was born in a refugee camp in Nepal without access to electricity, water, or healthcare. The camp was gated and there wasn鈥檛 much to do. She never imagined going anywhere further than the camp.

Ghimirey, now in her second year of medical school in 51社区鈥檚 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM), spent 14 years at the camp before her family was resettled in Akron, Ohio, in 2009.

鈥淚n a few months, after everything was taken care of paperwork wise, I started ninth grade,鈥� she explained. 鈥淎t that time, I did not know much English. I knew my ABCs, which was taught to us at school in the camp, but in the new school I did not understand a single word the teachers said in class. The only thing I knew were the math problems.鈥�

During her junior year of high school in 2010, she joined a biomedical program and started taking an interest in diseases and science. Ghimirey reached out to her teachers and mentors about her interest in medicine, who informed her she could attend college through scholarships, the Pell Grant, and student loans.

鈥淭hey helped me recognize that college and higher education was not just for people with rich and educated families,鈥� she said. 鈥淜nowing about all of these things, I thought to myself once again, 鈥楾his is something I鈥檓 interested in 鈥� I want to learn more about the diseases I saw in the refugee camp.鈥欌��

She obtained an undergraduate degree, earned her master鈥檚 degree and then applied for medical school.

鈥淣ow I鈥檓 here,鈥� she said. 鈥淭oday, studying about all the germs and parasites that existed in the camp, I don鈥檛 know how I survived all those years. I think I must have a very strong immune system.鈥�

A first-generation college and medical school student, Ghimirey said studying medicine brings new challenges and obstacles each day. Luckily, she has the support from HCOM鈥檚 faculty and her peers.

鈥淚 would recommend 51社区 and HCOM, it has been fun and challenging,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t allowed me to grow more as a person and challenge myself. I have met amazing people, each person with a story, and made wonderful friends. I was fortunate to have been accepted to OU-HCOM; I am grateful for learning about patients from a holistic view point.鈥�

Ghimirey plans on graduating in 2022. She鈥檚 not sure what specialty she wants to pursue just yet, so she will enter her clinical rotations with an open mind and see what excites her the most. 

No matter which specialty she chooses, Ghimirey has an entire community rooting for her.

鈥淢y family has always been supportive and are very proud of me,鈥� said Ghimirey. 鈥淚n Nepali culture, family is much more community-based so it is not only my parents, but the entire community is proud of me for all my accomplishments. Knowing this inspires me, but also brings high pressure for me to succeed. However, knowing that what I am learning now will enable me to save someone's life or overcome an illness inspires me. Knowing that I would be able to make a difference in communities and individual lives inspires me to work hard and push myself through challenges.鈥�